Northwest Passage & Baffin Island Expedition

Arrive in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, founded around 870 C.E. as the first permanent settlement on the island. The city has about 200,000 residents, making up nearly 60% of Iceland’s population, and is the world’s northernmost national capital. It is clean, safe, and focused on sustainability. After arrival, take the included transfer from the airport to your hotel. Check in at the Reykjavík Charter Hotel or a similar hotel and settle in for your stay.

After breakfast, take the included transfer from your hotel to the airport in Reykjavík. Board the Reykjavik Air Charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Kangerlussuaq was established in October 1941 as a U.S. Army Air Force base and served as a refueling stop during World War II. Today, it is Greenland’s largest commercial airport and supports a small population of around 500. Upon arrival, take the included school bus transfer to the ship for embarkation.

Optional Excursions Available for purchase after booking
Optional Kayak Expedition
Image Masters - Four Day Program

Spend the day at sea enjoying the ship’s facilities, programs, and ocean views.

There is no other place on Earth, other than Ilulissat, Greenland that can define itself by the size and volume of its icebergs. The name Ilulissat, in fact, is the Greenlandic word for ‘Iceberg’. This is truly an iceberg paradise! Despite its proximity to huge glaciers, people have lived here in excess of 4,000 years. The modern town of Ilulissat was founded in 1741 by the Danish merchant, Jacob Severin. With a current population of 4,500 it is the third-largest city in Greenland. The narrow inner harbor is lined by a kaleidoscope of colorful houses so typical of Greenlandic villages.

The mass and sheer volume of icebergs from nearby Jakobshavn Glacier has made Ilulissat the most popular tourist destination in Greenland. Moving at up to 45 meters (150’) per day, when averaged annually, the glacier drains 6.5% of the Greenland ice sheet and produces about 10% of all icebergs. For this reason, Ilulissat Icefjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Venture into the remote and rugged realm of Northwest Greenland — the legendary Thule region, often described as “the end of the world.” This is the Arctic at its most elemental: vast, silent, and sublime. Isolated from other settlements, Thule is one of the last places on Earth where traditional Inuk practices remain largely intact. Here, dogsleds are still the primary means of transport, and hunting — including the rare pursuit of narwhals from kayaks — remains a vital way of life. Your Seabourn expedition explores this pristine frontier over several days, navigating ice-filled fjords that are almost never visited. Highlights may include Qaanaaq, one of the northernmost inhabited communities on the planet, where the rhythms of life are shaped by the Arctic environment and centuries-old traditions. The coastline is carved by ancient glaciers like Sermeq Kujalleq (Jakobshavn Glacier), one of the fastest-moving glaciers in the world and a major contributor to global sea level rise. Icebergs born here can drift as far south as Newfoundland. The landscape is dominated by towering ice walls, deep blue meltwater lakes, and tundra plains stretching to the horizon. Wildlife sightings may include humpback whales, walruses, and Arctic hares, while glaucous gulls and snowy owls patrol the skies. This is Greenland’s true frontier — raw, remote, and unforgettable. Zodiac cruising among cathedral-sized icebergs Visits to UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord Cultural exchanges with Inuit communities Opportunities for polar wildlife photography

Spend the day at sea enjoying the ship’s facilities, programs, and ocean views.

Named in 1818 by explorer Captain John Ross for the English astronomer John Pond, Pond Inlet is a town with over 1,600 inhabitants. It stands out as one of northern Canada’s most interesting, culturally rich, and welcoming communities. The town offers a glimpse into the life of the modern Inuit, with caribou antlers and skulls adorning private homes, and hides of seals, caribou, and occasionally polar bears drying on racks in the sun. The local market features parts of seal, whale, caribou, and a wide variety of fish. Wooden sledges, known as qamutiqs, now towed by snowmobiles instead of dogs, can be seen in front yards, ready for the first snowfall. The local museum and cultural center host cultural performances that showcase unique Inuit throat-singing, with dancers dressed in traditional sealskin anoraks and mukluks.

Disclaimer: This port is a clearance port on nearly all itineraries, however when conditions perfectly align, excursions to this port may be featured.

Remote and rarely visited, Erik Harbour offers a pristine Arctic landscape of rocky shores, tundra blooms, and icy waters. Uninhabited regions such as this provide ideal habitat for wildlife including Arctic foxes, and seabird colonies in an untouched corner of Nunavut.
Final itineraries are subject to weather, ice, and other conditions and are subject to change

Sailing through the Northwest Passage is a rare travel experience that has been hundreds of years in the making. The passage — more specifically, a series of channels through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — extends approximately 900 miles from Baffin Island to the Beaufort Sea above Alaska. Your Seabourn ship spends nine days traversing this famed sea corridor, and while the exact route taken through the islands can vary, your expedition is sure to be one of contemplation and discovery.

The glacier-carved landscape here is dominated by sea ice, which is used as a platform by marine mammals such as walruses and Arctic ringed seals — as well as the polar bears that hunt them. Yet the region has experienced monumental change since Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen first mapped the Northwest Passage in 1906, and the rapidly shrinking sea ice coverage now allows ships to navigate the route year-round — while also creating existential challenges for the animals that rely upon the ice for survival. Many of the areas you pass through were traditional Indigenous hunting and fishing grounds, and archaeological discoveries show that the Pre-Dorset people occupied this region some 4,000 years ago.

Highlights along the Northwest Passage include:

Devon Island: The world’s largest uninhabited island, located west of Baffin Bay, is known as “Mars on Earth” for its barren, rocky terrain and polar desert climate.

Beechy Island: This tiny island, connected to Devon by a thin isthmus, is the final resting place for four members of the doomed Franklin Expedition of 1845.

Cambridge Bay: A visit to this small Inuit town — the administrative hub for Canada’s Nunavut territory — offers insight into how people survive in such a remote and harsh environment.

Bellot Strait: Steep slopes, strong currents, and thick sea ice make this narrow gap between Somerset Island and mainland Canada a navigational challenge. (Fear not, though: if it proves impassable, your Seabourn captain has other options!)

INCLUDED EXPEDITIONS:

Zodiac Excursions

Get an up-close perspective of this icy realm on regular Zodiac cruises, navigating huge icebergs and glacier fronts while your Expedition Team members point out marine mammals and wildlife ashore.

Nature Hikes

Set out on foot to explore beautiful, tundra-covered landscapes with your Expedition Team members, who delight in pointing out delicate plants and flowers that thrive in this hostile environment. You can hike to an ancient Thule settlement of stone pit houses on Devon Island, and encounters with arctic foxes, hares, and other wildlife are always possible.

OPTIONAL EXPEDITIONS (whenever possible):

Kayak:

Join your Kayak Team for a paddle along the shores wherever your expedition stops. The chance to experience this wild, remote place from a water-level perspective is a rare and special privilege.

Visit Cambridge Bay Village in Canada, a remote Arctic community known for its natural surroundings and local culture. Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, guided nature walks, or cultural experiences. Weather and conditions in polar regions can be cold and icy, which may affect daily activities.

Sailing through the Northwest Passage is a rare travel experience that has been hundreds of years in the making. The passage — more specifically, a series of channels through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — extends approximately 900 miles from Baffin Island to the Beaufort Sea above Alaska. Your Seabourn ship spends nine days traversing this famed sea corridor, and while the exact route taken through the islands can vary, your expedition is sure to be one of contemplation and discovery.

The glacier-carved landscape here is dominated by sea ice, which is used as a platform by marine mammals such as walruses and Arctic ringed seals — as well as the polar bears that hunt them. Yet the region has experienced monumental change since Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen first mapped the Northwest Passage in 1906, and the rapidly shrinking sea ice coverage now allows ships to navigate the route year-round — while also creating existential challenges for the animals that rely upon the ice for survival. Many of the areas you pass through were traditional Indigenous hunting and fishing grounds, and archaeological discoveries show that the Pre-Dorset people occupied this region some 4,000 years ago.

Highlights along the Northwest Passage include:

Devon Island: The world’s largest uninhabited island, located west of Baffin Bay, is known as “Mars on Earth” for its barren, rocky terrain and polar desert climate.

Beechy Island: This tiny island, connected to Devon by a thin isthmus, is the final resting place for four members of the doomed Franklin Expedition of 1845.

Cambridge Bay: A visit to this small Inuit town — the administrative hub for Canada’s Nunavut territory — offers insight into how people survive in such a remote and harsh environment.

Bellot Strait: Steep slopes, strong currents, and thick sea ice make this narrow gap between Somerset Island and mainland Canada a navigational challenge. (Fear not, though: if it proves impassable, your Seabourn captain has other options!)

INCLUDED EXPEDITIONS:

Zodiac Excursions

Get an up-close perspective of this icy realm on regular Zodiac cruises, navigating huge icebergs and glacier fronts while your Expedition Team members point out marine mammals and wildlife ashore.

Nature Hikes

Set out on foot to explore beautiful, tundra-covered landscapes with your Expedition Team members, who delight in pointing out delicate plants and flowers that thrive in this hostile environment. You can hike to an ancient Thule settlement of stone pit houses on Devon Island, and encounters with arctic foxes, hares, and other wildlife are always possible.

OPTIONAL EXPEDITIONS (whenever possible):

Kayak:

Join your Kayak Team for a paddle along the shores wherever your expedition stops. The chance to experience this wild, remote place from a water-level perspective is a rare and special privilege.

Visit Philpots Island in Baffin, Canada, a remote Arctic location. Expedition activities may include zodiac cruises, guided nature walks, or cultural experiences, depending on local conditions. The weather in polar regions can be cold and icy, which may affect daily activities.

This small island group in Hudson Bay is rich in biodiversity, from walruses and seals to migratory birds. Zodiac cruising reveals rugged coastlines and the raw beauty of Canada’s far north.

In the high Arctic silence of Baffin Bay, where icebergs drift like ancient sculptures and the horizon stretches into eternity, your day begins with a sense of mystery and promise. This is the day designed for spontaneity—an open canvas for the Expedition Leader to paint with the colors of the wild. You might find yourself cruising past towering fjords, stepping ashore on this remote island to trace the footsteps of Inuit ancestors, or watching for pods of belugas prowling the shallows and icy channels under a sky brushed with northern light. With the flexibility of an extra day built into your journey, this surprise experience is crafted in real time, responding to nature’s rhythm and the spirit of exploration.

Spend the day at sea enjoying the ship’s facilities, programs, and ocean views.

Greenland’s capital Nuuk, is a city of vitality and Greenlandic culture. It’s here that old traditions and modern influences combine to create a diverse population. Nuuk is the home of the University of Greenland with its 650 students and the Greenland National Museum with is its extensive historical archives and cultural displays. Also of interest are the Nuuk Art Museum and the Kayak Museum. The Art Museum holds a body of 300 paintings primarily featuring the work of traveling European artists, while the Kayak Museum houses a very impressive collection of sealskin kayaks and traditional hunting artifacts. The modest wooden frame of the Nuuk Cathedral, built in 1849, is a recognizable landmark on Nuuk’s skyline.

The site of Nuuk was occupied as far back as 2,200 B.C.E. by ancient pre-Inuit peoples from Canada. It was settled again in the 10th century by Viking explorers. The current city was founded in 1728 by Danish missionary Hans Egede. A statue of Egede stands adjacent to the cathedral.

Kangerlussuaq is Greenland’s largest commercial airport and was originally built in October 1941 as a U.S. Army Air Force refueling base. The town has about 500 residents. After disembarkation, take the included school bus transfer to the airport, fly on the included air charter to Reykjavík, and then take the included transfer to your hotel. Stay overnight at the Reykjavík Charter Hotel or similar.

Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, was founded around 870 C.E. as the first permanent settlement on the island. The city has about 200,000 residents, making up nearly 60% of Iceland’s population, and is the world’s northernmost national capital. After your stay, take the included transfer from your hotel to the airport.